Resilient rail fastener



Nov. 2, 1943. G. R.. BURKHARDT 2,333,518.

RES ILIENT RAIL FASTENER Filed Jan. 19, 1942 v7E Sheets-Sheet 1 Patente-d Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STTES PAT-ENT v0 FFI CE 2,333,518 v y '.7 RESILIENT RAIL FAs'r-E-NER George R. Burkhardt, Chicago, Application January 19, 1942, Serial No. 427,377 (o1. zas- 349) Claims.

This invention relates to rail fasteners of the type which are resilient to permit the rail to partake of the wave motion imparted to it by the passage of rolling stock thereover, and has particular reference to improvements in rail fasteners of this type which comprise an anchor element to be anchored to a support for the rail and a. coil spring engaged upon the anchor element. between the rail ange and an Aabutment on the anchor element and reacting from said abutment upon the rail flange to hold the rail yieldably seated upon its support.

One object of the invention is to provide a shoe through which the coil spring acts to exert its holding force upon the rail flange, and to construct said shoe and the anchor element foroooperation ina novel manner to maintain the shoe operatively disposedrelative to theY rail flange and the anchor element. A

Another object of the invention is to form the coil spring for cooperation with the anchor element to insure av proper operative relationship between said spring and the rail flange. v

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become morer fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in a resilient rail fastener embodying the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated' in the accompanying drawings and defined' in the appended claims.

'In the accompanying drawings, wherein are illustrated specic, practical embodiments of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views: Figure 1 is a cross sectional View through a portion of'a rail, its support andone practical form of' the improved resilient rail fastener, showing the initial step employed in operatively applying said fastener to the rail support andthe rail.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Fig'. 1 showing the second step employedl in operatively applying the resilient fastener to the rail support and the rail.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the resilient fastener operatively applied to the rail support and the rail. Figure 4f is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figs. 'I to 3 illustrating a slightly alternative construction.

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6^-5 of Flg.5`.

" Figure 7 is a View similar to Figs. 1 to 3 illus-J trating another alternative embodiment ofthe invention; and

Figure 8 is a cross section on the line 8228101' Fig. 7.

According to each of the illustrated einbodiments of the invention the improved resilient fastener is designated Igenerally as A, a portion of the base flange of a rail to be fastened is'de'signated as Ill, a portion of a tie plate. upon which the rail rests is designated as I I, and a portion 'of a cross tie upon whichthe tie plate rests is des; ignatedv as I2. i ff Also, according to each illustrated embodiment of` the invention, the resilient fastener' A comte prises an anchor element in the form of av pin I3 formed. atits vlower end to be anchored to the tie plate I I, a resilient element in the form of a coil spring I4 engaged on the upper:` portion of 'said` pinf, and an adjustable abutment element in the form' of a nutv I6 threaded on theupper end of the pin I3y and from which said springl is designed' to react to impose its force upon .the rail flange. Moreover, according to the Figs. 1 to 6 embodiments of the invention, thefastener A includes additionally a shoe I5 to inter# posed betweenl the lower end of the spring I4 and the upperv face of the rail flange Iii-and upon and through which the spring I4 is designed' to act to impose its force on the rail ange. At itsv lower end the pin I3l is provided with an inwardly projecting toe II., whilevl at a suitable distance above itslower end said -pin is provided with an outwardly projecting lug formation .I 8' the ends of which extend beyond the sides` of said pin. To anchor the thus constructed ,pin to the tie plate II,v the pin is placed in a downwardly and outwardly inclined position with its lower end alined withone of the spike holes I9 inthe tie plate and then, by downward movement 'of said pin, itsk lower end portion is caused to downwardly throughsaid spike hole I9 untilathe toe I'I` is 'disposed below the plane of the bottom face ofthe tie plate in an accommodatingrecess 20 provided in the top ofthe cross tie I2, as shown in Fig. 1... The pin then is swung outwardly to cause the toe I'I to become engaged beneath'the tie plate at. the inner side of the spike opening, and this outward swinging movement is continued until the lug formation I8 engagesthe top of the tie plate at the outer side of the spike opening i9; as shown in Fig. 2. Any further outward swinging movement is preventedby the cooperation of the toe I"I and the lug I8 with the tie plate and the pin thus occupies an upwardly and outwardly incl-ined' applied position in. which itis intel"-v locked with the tie plate against upward or downward or outward swinging movement relative thereto. In 'this connection it is pointed out that the spacing of the lug formation I8 from the toe I1 is such that the pin, in its applied position, is disposed at substantially right angles to the plane of the top face of the rail flange I; also, that the lower end portion of said pin is of substantially rectangular shape in cross section, or at least has flattened sides, or a flattened inner or outer face, for cooperation with one or more of the walls defining the spike opening I9 to hold the pin I3 against rotation.

disposed inwardly of the pin I3. Accordingly, to provide for readily obtaining and maintaining this relationship, the lower terminal portion of said spring is bent downwardly to provide a lug 21 to engage one of the side edges of the shoe I5. 'I'he lu-g 21, by coperation with its related side edge of the shoe I5, holds the spring I4 against rotation, and the relationship of said lug to the terminal end portion of the lowermost coil of said sp-ring I4-and to the said sideV edge of the shoe I5 is such that when said lug'is engaged with the said side edge of said shoe the said ter- Y minal end portion of the lowermost coil of said `Before applyin-g the pin I3 to the tie plate, .the` n nut I6 is screwed upwardly along the upper end of said pin to a position, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, in which it does not interfere with' movement spring is disposed in overlying relationship to the portion of said shoe which is `disposed inwardly of the pin I3.-

of the coil spring I4 and the .shoe I5 upwardly 5 along said pin to positions in which they do not interfere with application of said pin to the tie plate. When, however, the pin has been applied, the nut I6 is screwed downwardly to compress the spring I4 and to cause it to act either directly upon the rail flange I0, as in the Figs. 7 and 8 embodiment of the invention, or through the shoe I5, as in the Figs. 1 to 6 embodiments of the invention, to impose a yieldable holding force downwardly upon the rail flange. The intensity of the holding force exerted by the spring I4 is, of course, determined by the amount that the nut I6.is screwed downwardly, and in this connection any suitable means such as a cotter pin or the like maybe employed to secure said nut in any desired position of adjustment, the means for this purpose being illustrated in the present instance by way of example as comprising a spring linger 2| carried by said nut for cooperation with the `threads of the pin I3.

- According to the Figs. 1 to 4 embodiment of the invention the shoe I5 is in the form of a plate, preferably but not necessarily having its inner marginal portion offset downwardly to provide-a toe 22 to engage the upper face of the rail flange, and further having a pair of recesses 23 extending inwardly from its outer edge and defining therebetween a tongue 24 which is bent upwardly from the plate to a position at substantially right angles thereto to seat against the inner face of the pin I3 to hold the shoe against outward movement yand to guide `the same for movement longitudinally relative to said pin and to prevent it from being tilted by the spring I4.

AThe recesses 23, besides serving to provide the tongue 24, serve to provide a pair of arms 25, 25, one at each side of the shoe I5, and when the tongue r24 is bent upwardly there is provided a space between said arms to` accommodate the pin. Thus, in the operative position of the shoe I5 relative to the pin I3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings'the arms 25, 25 are disposed at opposite sides of said pin, respectively, and cooperatetherewith to hold the shoe against side- Wise. movement from its operative position.

Any suitable means may be provided Vto p revent rotation of the shoe I5 relative to the pin I3; However, a simple, practical and preferred means for vthis purpose may comprise a flat face 26 at the inner side of the pin I3` against which the outer fiat face of the tongue 24 may bear, vas illustrated in the drawings.

, Best cooperation of the, coil spring I4 ywith the shoe I5 and the rail flange I0 is obtained-by having the terminal end portion of the lowermost coil of said spring disposed in overlying relationship tothe portion ofsaid shoe which is The Figures 5 and 6 embodiment of the invention is'the same as the Figs. 1 to 4 embodiment except in respect to the form of the shoe I5 and the manner in which said shoe cooperates with the pin I3. 'According to the Figs. 5 and 6 embodiment of Ythe invention the-shoe I5 is provided with anopening 28'to accommodate the pin I3, and the outer end portion of said shoe is disposed in overlying relationship to the lug formation I8 and `rests thereon. Thereby said shoe is supported or fulcrumed at its outer end upon said lug formation for downward swinging movement of its inner end portion into holding engagement with therail flange by the spring I4. In this connection since, according tothe Figs. 1 to 4 form of the invention, the lug I8 is not required to support the outer end of the shoe I5, said lug, according to said form ofthe invention, need not extend beyond the sides of the pin I3 but may be of any desired width. In fact, according to the Figs. 1 to 4 form of the invention, a shoulder of -any suitable type may be employed in lieu of the lug I8to serve the purpose-ot' said lug.- To hold the shoe I5 of the Figs. 5 and 6 embodiment of the invention against rotation relative to the pin-I3, said shoe may be flanged downwardly at its outer end, as indicated at 29, for cooperation with the'outer'face of the lug I8.

The-Figs. 7 and 8 embodiment of the invention is generally the same as the Figs. l to 6v embodiments except that the toe I1 and the lug formation I8 are designed to hold the 'pin I3 ina vertical position, instead of an upwardly and outwardly inclined'position, and except that the terminal end portion of the lowermost coil of the spring I4 acts directly against the rail flange Il) instead of through a shoe. According to the Figs. 'l and 8 embodimentl ofthe invention the terminal portion of the lowermost coil of the spring may bear against thel rail flange `and ,not against the lug formation I8, or against both the rail iiange ands'aid lugv formation. In the latter event the outer portion of its lowermost coil obviously will tend to fulcrum upori'the` lug I84 toY insure. proper holding cooperation of theinner portion of its lowermost coilwith therail ange. Inv either case, the terminal end portion of the lowermost coil preferably is lient downwardly, "as indicated at 3D, to overlie and cooperate with the outer edge of the lug formation I8 to hold the spring IIi` in a desired position of rotation.

i While the anchorelement I3, according to eachV of the illustrated `embodiments ofthe invention, is in the form'of a pin for interlocking cooperation with a tie plate, it is manifest that said anchor 'element may, if desired,be in `the` form of a spike to be driven or screwed into the cross tie l2.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the Invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Means for resiliently fastening a rail upon a support, said means comprising an anchor element to be anchored to the support, said anchor element including a shank to extend above the support and the base flange of the rail, an abutnient on said shank, a shoe to engage the rail flange, a coil spring on said shank between said abutment and said shoe to react from the former upon and through the latter to impose its force upon the rail flange, said shoe and shank having means cooperating directly with each other to hold said shoe against rotation relative to said shank, and a downwardly extending lug on the lower end of said spring for engagement with an edge of said shoe to hold said spring against rotation in either direction from a predetermined position of rotation relative to said shoe.

2. Means for resiliently fastening a rail upon a support, said means comprising an anchor element to be anchored to the support, said anchor element including a shank to extend above the support and the base ange of the rail, an abutment on said shank, a shoe to engage the rail flange, a coil spring on said shank between said abutment and said shoe to react from the former upon and through the latter to impose its force upon the rail flange, and a tongue extending upwardly from said shoe and disposed against the inner side of said shank to hold said shoe against downward and outward tilting movement relative to said shank under the force exerted thereon by said spring.

3. Means for resiliently fastening a rail upon a support, said means comprising an anchor element to be anchored to the support, said anchor element including a shank to extend above the support and the base flange of the rail, an abutment on said shank, a shoe to engage the rail flange, and a coil spring on said shank between said abutment and said shoe to react from the former upon and through the latter to impose its force upon the rail flange, said shoe comprising a, plate for contact at its inner end with the upper face of the rail flange and having in its outer end portion a medial recess accommodating said shank and providing a pair of arms disposed to opposite sides of said shank, respectively, whereby said shoe is held against sidewise movement relative to said shank, said shank having a flat inner face and said shoe further having a tongue extending upwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto into said spring and disposed against said at face of said shank, whereby said shoe is held againt tilting downwardly and outwardly under the force exerted thereagainst by said Spring.

4. Means for resiliently fastening a rail upon a support, said means comprising an anchor element to be anchored to the support, said anchor element including a shank to extend above the rail support and the base flange of the rail, a lug formation on said shank, an abutment on said shank, a shoe for holding contact at its inner end with the rail flange, and a coil spring on said shank between said abutment and said shoe to react from the former upon and through the latter to impose its force upon the rail flange, the outer end portion of said shoe resting upon said lug formation and being supported thereby against downward movement and for rocking movement whereby its inner end portion is caused by said spring to be urged downwardly into holding cooperation with the rail flange.

5. Resilient rail fastening means as set forth n claim 4 inwhich the shank and the shoe are formed for cooperation to hold the shoe against outward and sidewise movement and rotation relative to the shank.

6. Resilient rail fastening means as set forth in claim 4 in which the shoe is provided with a lip for cooperation with the lug formation on the shank to hold the shoe against rotation relative to the shank.

7. Means for resiliently fastening a rail upon a support, said means comprising an anchor element to be anchored to the support, said `anchor element including a shank to extend above the rail support and the base flange of the rail, a lug formation on said shank, an abutment on said shank, and a coil spring on said shank between said abutment and the rail flange reacting from the former upon the latter, said spring having a portion thereof cooperating with said lug formation to hold said spring in a predetermined position of rotation relative to the rail flange.

8. Means for resiliently fastening a rail upon a support, said means comprising an anchor element to be anchored to the support, said anchor element including a shank to extend above the rail support and the base flange of the rail, a lug formation on said shank, an abutment on said shank, and a coil spring on said shank between said abutment and the rail flange reacting from the former upon the latter, said spring having its lower terminal end portion directed downwardly into overlying relationship to the outer edge of said lug formation thus to cooperate with said lug formation to hold said spring in a predetermined position of rotation relative to the rail ange.

9. A resilient fastener for a rail comprising, in combinationwith a tie plate interposed between the rail and a supporting cross tie and having therein an anchoring pin accommodating hole, an anchoring pin havingits lower end portion disposed in said hole, a toe on the lower end of said pin extending inwardly therefrom and underlying the tie plate whereby the pin is held againstupward movement relative to said plate, a lug formation on said pin extending outwardly therefrom and engaging the top of the tie plate whereby the pin is supported in a predetermined position against outward rocking movement relative to the tie plate, said lug formation being elongated and extending beyond each side 1 of said pin to assist in supporting said pin against sidewise rocking movement relative to said tie plate, an abutment element on the upper end portion of said pin, and a, coil spring surrounding said pin and by reaotance from said abutment element exerting a yieldable holding force downwardly upon the rail.

10. A resilient rail fastener as set forth in claim 9 in which the coil spring directly engages the rail flange.

GEORGE R. BURKHARDT. 

